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Jdsmith43
I guess that depends on what you're after. The William Kennedy translation is likely the closest you'll get to capturing the spirit of the original poetry, with its strong rhythmic cadence, use of alliteration, kennings, caesuras, and epithets. This one is a more challenging read, though, than other popular translations.
Burton Raffel's translation is probably the most popular. It reduces greatly much of the original structure, is less rhythmic, and is generally written in much more accessible diction and syntax. To learn the story and get a feel for the meaning (without getting the language), Raffel's is a solid translation.
The newest popular one is Seamus Heaney's, which is a blend of the two above. It's solid. I'd suggest getting a copy with the CD of Heaney reading it aloud in his think Irish brogue. This one is readily available. Kennedy's translation is dated and more difficult to procure.
Burton Raffel's translation is probably the most popular. It reduces greatly much of the original structure, is less rhythmic, and is generally written in much more accessible diction and syntax. To learn the story and get a feel for the meaning (without getting the language), Raffel's is a solid translation.
The newest popular one is Seamus Heaney's, which is a blend of the two above. It's solid. I'd suggest getting a copy with the CD of Heaney reading it aloud in his think Irish brogue. This one is readily available. Kennedy's translation is dated and more difficult to procure.
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